For the second year in a row, the Camas-Washougal Business Alliance and local schools teamed up to "Stuff the Bus" in their local communities. The campaign brought the community together to provide food and toys to families in need.

"The need is so great right now, " says Erinn Auclair, Program Manager at Children’s Home Society. "Families that used to donate food are coming in to receive food. It’s a different time."

The event pitted the area high schools of Camas and Washougal to see which school could collect the most items. On December 4, the competing schools chanted "Stuff the bus!" as members of the community stopped by drop off their donations. By the end of the day, over 72,120 pounds of food and toys filling up three school buses were collected for local families. All food will be distributed both to Children’s Home Society of Washington’s East County Family Resource Center in Washougal as well as the Camas Fire Department’s C.A.R.O.L. (Christmas Activities Relief Organization Limited) program and The Treasure House.

"Stuff the Bus brought the community together in a way that I have never seen before, " says Cynthia Mace, a senior at Washougal High School and the Project Leader for the fundraiser. "No person should ever be turned away when asking for help. That’s exactly what this fundraiser is here to prevent. "

Over 80 staff, family members, families, and community members showed up to empty the buses and move the food and toys to the family center.

Thank you to the communities in Southwest Washington for their support of this remarkable campaign!